SP’s bid to cancel bail of riot accused

Ahead of the April 10 polls in west UP, the Samajwadi Party government moved the Allahabad high court on Tuesday, seeking the cancellation of bail granted to the Muzaffarnagar riot-accused. The BJP dubbed the move as political.

A senior government official, however, told HT the step was taken in response to Supreme Court directives, saying "the state could move the court to get the bail of riot accused cancelled if it feels they could be a threat to law and order."

"Even if the apex court had so desired, the government surely could have acted immediately after the court’s March 26 order. Why did it wait till now," asked BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak.

Of the 650 people arrested in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots, Hukum Singh (BJP), Qadir Rana (BSP) and Bhartendu Singh (BJP), are contesting the LS polls from UP.